Ukraine war: Zelensky names new army chief

Key Points

• Zelensky bows to pressure to sack military chief
• Three injured after Ukraine-bound vessel struck near Romanian coast, says president
• Russian guided bomb in Zaporizhzhia kills at least three
• Russian warship carries out live-firing exercise off UK coast
• Chinese nationals injured in drone attack on Moscow
• Four Indians killed in attack on ship leaving Ukraine port

Russian forces seize village in Kharkiv region, says Moscow

Russian forces have taken control of the village of Volokhivske in Ukraine's Kharkiv region, news agencies cited the Defence Ministry as saying.

The agencies also said Moscow had continued to hit infrastructure used by Kyiv's military in the Ukrainian port of Odesa.

The Independent could not independently confirm the battlefield reports.

Kremlin: Moscow in touch with New Delhi after four Indians killed in Black Sea

We heard earlier from Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who said Moscow was in touch with its partners in India after a missile strike killed four Indians on a Black Sea cargo ship as it was leaving the port of Odesa in Ukraine.

Kyiv said Russia hit the Golden Leo – a Guinea-Bissau-flagged ship manned by a crew from India and Syria – with three cruise missiles on Sunday, killing 10 people including four Indians.

New Delhi summoned the Russian chargé d’affaires over the incident.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Tuesday that Russia will continue to hit vessels involved in supplying the Ukrainian military.

Zelensky bows to pressure to sack military chief

President Volodymyr Zelensky has fired Gen Oleksandr Syrskyi as commander-in-chief of Ukraine's armed forces following days of mass protests in Kyiv and other cities nationwide demanding his removal.

Mr Zelensky appointed Mykhailo Drapatyi as the new army chief, according to a statement on social media.

"Our shared wish is one — victory over the enemy and conditions at the front and pressure on Russia that would force Russia toward peace," he said.

The Ukrainian leader said he made the decision after a series of meetings with military commanders. They began shortly after protests broke out demanding the reinstatement of former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov, seen by demonstrators as a driver of military modernisation, and the removal of Syrskyi, who they said embodied the army's old, Soviet-style command culture.

Watch | 'I was Russia’s Michael McIntyre': Russian comedian Sasha Nezlobin on his new life in America

Recap: Burnham speaks to Zelensky and Trump in first calls after taking office

Andy Burnham has spoken with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky and US president Donald Trump as part of his first set of phone calls with world leaders as prime minister.

Burnham promised that Britain's support for Ukraine would remain unchanged under his leadership, just hours after he replaced Sir Keir Starmer in No 10.

Zelensky confirmed the call on his Telegram channel and said the two sides reaffirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine and agreed to speak on bilateral cooperation in the near future, including within the Anti-Ballistic Coalition.

"I was happy to speak with Andy Burnham and congratulate him on taking office as prime minister of the United Kingdom. I truly appreciate that the support for Ukraine and our people will remain steadfast," he said.

Zelensky thanked Burnham for “warm words of respect for the Ukrainian people and for your condolences to the families and loved ones of those killed in Russia's recent attacks”.

Burnham gains early defence win with Canada fighter jet agreement

Britain's new government secured an early defence win on Tuesday as Canada joined the delayed GCAP fighter jet programme, as European seeks to reduce their reliance on US weapons.

The move coincides with the Farnborough Airshow, the aerospace and defence industry's premier gathering - with wars in Ukraine and the Middle East driving demand for tools from combat drones and interceptor missiles to AI-enabled military software.

The airshow coincides with new Prime Minister Andy Burnham's first days in office. He named John Healey, who favours hiking the UK defence budget, as finance minister, while giving Health Minister Wes Streeting the defence brief.

Seven floors of nine-storey block engulfed in flames after fatal Russian attack

As we’ve been reporting, a Russian guided-bomb attack on the southern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia killed at least three people on Tuesday and injured more than a dozen, according to regional officials.

We can now bring you some more on the attack.

Seven floors of a nine-storey apartment block were engulfed by flames, with two men aged 62 and 49 being killed along with a 67-year-old woman, regional authorities said.

Officials say Russia makes heavy use of guided bombs — air-launched, often Soviet-era weapons fitted with wings and navigation — in attacks on regions close to the front line.

"The situation in the city is very tense, because in the morning we drive (to work) under Shahed (drone) attacks, at lunch time we have guided-bomb attacks, and in the evening we return home under Shahed and guided-bomb attacks," said Tetiana, a 38-year-old resident of the damaged apartment block.

Footage from the scene showed one side of the apartment block had been blackened by fire and that emergency workers were working to put out the flames. Burnt-out cars were parked nearby.

Moscow denies targeting civilians but has frequently hit residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure since its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Ukraine’s army chief expected to lose job after week of protests over sacking of defence minister

Ukraine’s commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi is expected to lose his job as Volodymyr Zelensky looks set to stave off widespread protests.

In the past week, demonstrators have gathered outside the Ukrainian president’s office in Kyiv demanding Syrskyi’s sacking and the reinstatement of popular former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who was fired after a clash with senior military leaders.

Fedorov, who is credited with improving Ukraine’s army since he took office in January, was said to have had significant differences with the commander-in-chief.

But Syrskyi on Monday publicly denied the differences were irreconcilable and said their relationship was a professional one, despite the disagreements.

Read the full report here:

Ukraine’s army chief expected to lose job after week of protests over Fedorov sacking

Russia redirecting fuel supplies from Siberia

Russian authorities are redirecting fuel supplies from Siberia and ramping up imports from Belarus to prevent shortages in the country's most populous and wealthiest Moscow region amid nationwide disruptions caused by Ukrainian drone attacks on refineries, industry sources have told Reuters news agency.

The fuel crunch has been felt in varying degrees across Russia's 11 time zones since May, when Ukraine stepped up attacks on oil refineries in an attempt to undermine Russian war efforts.

Russia's overall gasoline output fell to the equivalent of around 65 per cent of average seasonal consumption in early July after undershooting demand for a couple of months, according to industry sources.

An attack on the Moscow Oil Refinery in mid-June caused fuel shortages and long lines at filling stations, but supplies in the Russian capital, home to the political and cultural elite, and the wider Moscow region stabilised by mid-July, according to regional fuel traders and Reuters witnesses, with ample availability of gasoline and diesel for cars.

In pictures: Heavy damage after Russian bombs kill at least three in Zaporizhzhia

Russian guided bomb in Zaporizhzhia kills at least three

A Russian guided bomb attack on Ukraine's southern city of Zaporizhzhia on Tuesday killed at least three people and injured more than a dozen, the regional governor said.

We’re working to bring you more.

Russia summons Moldovan ambassador amid allegations its employees were subject to 'force and threats'

Russia summoned the Moldovan ambassador to the foreign ministry on Tuesday after it said employees of its embassy in Chisinau were subjected to "force and threats of detention" by Moldovan police.

In a statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry named two recent incidents in which its staff in Moldova had been subjected to unreasonable delays at a border crossing or random document checks while travelling around the Moldovan capital.

In one of those incidents, on the weekend, Moscow said Moldovan police "used force and threats of detention against Embassy staff."

The statement said Moldova's envoy, Lilian Darii, was told that Russia maintains the right to take retaliatory measures.

Russia bans ships anchoring in areas prone to Ukrainian attacks

Russia has banned anchoring vessels in areas that are unprotected by air defences in two ports along a key trading route for grains in the Azov Sea, a government decree showed on Tuesday.

The decree affects ships in the port of Azov in the Azov Sea and the port of Kavkaz in the Kerch Strait.

Shipping in the Sea of Azov, the route for a quarter of Russia's grains exports, has been restricted since last Friday amid Ukrainian attacks on tankers and other commercial vessels in the area.

Zelensky shares footage saying three Russian oil depots hit in Stavropol region - ICYMI

In one of Kyiv's most frequently bombed neighborhoods, residents choose to stay

Residents of Kyiv’s historic Lukianivka neighborhood share a dark joke: Russian strikes hit the area so frequently, they ought to be issued military service documents as though they are living on the front line of the war.

Real estate agent Dmytro Zhekov acknowledges the danger up front when he tries to draw prospective renters to one of the Ukrainian capital's most frequently bombed areas. In his sales pitch on social media, he highlights the neighborhood’s many virtues: affordable rents, easy access to the city center, a well-connected metro line and historic landmarks.

“From the beginning I tell them, ‘This is a place in the danger zone. It gets hit regularly. If you are all right with that, then we can see it,’” he said.

The district includes a Soviet-era weapons plant that has become one of Russia’s most frequent targets in Kyiv, with its roof blackened by repeated strikes. Across the street, the Lukianivka metro station, which gives the neighborhood its name, has been hit at least eight times. During air raids, it also serves as a shelter for residents. Craters have become a permanent part of the urban landscape.

Read more here:

In one of Kyiv's most frequently bombed neighborhoods, residents choose to stay

Russian forces seize village in Kharkiv region, says Moscow

Russian forces have taken control of the village of Volokhivske in Ukraine's Kharkiv region, news agencies cited the Defence Ministry as saying.

The agencies also said Moscow had continued to hit infrastructure used by Kyiv's military in the Ukrainian port of Odesa.

The Independent could not independently confirm the battlefield reports.

Domestic fuel market in Russia partly stabilised, says Moscow's deputy PM

The domestic fuel market in Russia has partly stabilised, deputy prime minister Alexander Novak said on Tuesday.

He did, however, say the situation was still difficult in some regions.

Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian refineries in recent months have disrupted fuel supplies, leading to long queues at pump stations, excessive gasoline prices and rationing in several regions.

Kremlin: Moscow in touch with New Delhi after four Indians killed in Black Sea

We’ve heard more from Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who said Moscow was in touch with its partners in India after a missile strike killed four Indians on a Black Sea cargo ship as it was leaving the port of Odesa in Ukraine.

Kyiv said Russia hit the Golden Leo – a Guinea-Bissau-flagged ship manned by a crew from India and Syria – with three cruise missiles on Sunday, killing 10 people including four Indians.

New Delhi summoned the Russian chargé d’affaires over the incident.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Tuesday that Russia will continue to hit vessels involved in supplying the Ukrainian military.

Kremlin says Ukrainian attacks on Wildberries has caused losses for companny

The Kremlin said on Tuesday that recent Ukrainian attacks on warehouses owned by Wildberries, Russia's largest online retailer, had caused losses for the company as well as for small- and medium-sized businesses.

Asked about the attacks, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the situation was not easy and denied accusations from Ukraine that Wildberries handles military supplies used for Russia's war effort.

In pictures: Russia launches air attack on Sumy

Russian warship carries out live-firing exercise off UK coast

A Russian warship carried out a live-fire artillery exercise off the coast of Plymouth on Monday, the Ministry of Defence said.

The Russian frigate, Neustrashimy, was being shadowed by a Royal Navy ship and a French military aircraft during the operation, which lasted around 30 minutes.

The warship is understood to have informed the Royal Navy offshore patrol vessel HMS Tyne of its intentions ahead of time.

A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: “A Russian naval vessel shadowed by the Royal Navy conducted a live-fire weapons exercise in international waters approximately 40 nautical miles south of Plymouth yesterday.

“The Royal Navy monitored that exercise throughout, continues to track the vessel’s activity closely, and stands ready to protect UK national security.”

Our senior foreign affairs reporter James Reynolds brings the full report.

Watch: Russian comedian Sasha Nezlobin on his new life in America

Russia attacks Naftogaz gas production facilities, says Ukraine

Russia has attacked Naftogaz's gas production facilities in Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv region for three days in a row, the state-owned energy company said on Tuesday.

An attack on one of the facilities on Sunday resulted in partial loss of production volumes after equipment needed to be stopped, the company said on Telegram.

Another facility was damaged in an attack on Monday morning, Naftogaz said.

Russia expels two Italian diplomats, foreign ministry says

Russia said it had declared two Italian diplomats persona non grata, calling it a reciprocal measure in response to the expulsion of two Russian embassy staff in Italy.

Italian foreign minister Antonio Tajani said on 9 July that Rome had expelled two military attaches at the Russian embassy in Italy who were allegedly involved in espionage activities.

The Russian foreign ministry said in ​a ⁠statement that Vittorio Parrella, ‌the assistant defence attache at the Italian embassy, and Davide D’Aprile, an attache, ‌were persona non grata and ‌must leave Russia with their families within three days.

The ministry also said it had ⁠summoned Italian interim Charge d'Affaires Giovanni Scopa in connection with the expulsion of Russian embassy staff.

"The Russian Federation has expelled, without reason, the Italian military attache in Moscow along with one of ‌his collaborators. This is an act ​of blatant retaliation for the expulsion ‌from Italy of ⁠two Russian military attaches, who ⁠were indeed caught red-handed while carrying out espionage activities to ‌the detriment ​of our national ‌security," Tajani wrote ​on X on Monday.

‘I was Russia’s Michael McIntyre – but I’ve now fled Putin and may never go back’

With his own sitcom, a thriving stand-up career and various films in the works, Sasha Nezlobin was one of the biggest comedy names in Russia. But in the space of just a few months, he went from writing a new show to fleeing his home country and the wrath of Vladimir Putin.

In February 2022, the comedian found himself frantically packing a suitcase to escape Moscow with his family. He had criticised Russia’s prosecution of those speaking out against the war with Ukraine – and Nezlobin, his wife and their young daughter were headed for the last direct flight to New York before Europe and North America closed their airspace to Russian planes.

‘I was Russia’s Michael McIntyre – but I’ve now fled Putin and may never go back’

Three injured after Ukraine-bound vessel struck near Romanian coast, says president

A vessel sailing from Egypt to Ukraine has been hit off Romania's coast in an attack likely linked to Russia's war on Ukraine, Romanian president Nicusor Dan has said.

This year, Russian and Ukrainian drones have repeatedly breached the airspace and territorial waters of Romania, officials in the European Union and Nato member state neighbouring Ukraine have said.

"Last night, the LPG Gas Lisbon, a Liberian-flagged vessel, was hit outside Romanian territorial waters, approximately 20 nautical miles (40 km) off the Romanian coast," Dan wrote on X.

Dan said Romanian rescuers had evacuated the crew of the Liberian-flagged vessel, including three injured members, and a tugboat had been dispatched to ensure the vessel did not drift and pose a danger to navigation.

"State institutions are on alert and will clarify the circumstances, causes and responsibilities related to this serious incident, most likely part of the illegal war of aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine," Dan said.

Burnham speaks to Zelensky and Trump in first calls after taking office

Andy Burnham has spoken with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky and US president Donald Trump as part of his first set of phone calls with world leaders as prime minister.

Burnham promised that Britain's support for Ukraine would remain unchanged under his leadership, just hours after he replaced Sir Keir Starmer in No 10.

Zelensky confirmed the call on his Telegram channel and said the two sides reaffirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine and agreed to speak on bilateral cooperation in the near future, including within the Anti-Ballistic Coalition.

"I was happy to speak with Andy Burnham and congratulate him on taking office as prime minister of the United Kingdom. I truly appreciate that the support for Ukraine and our people will remain steadfast," he said.

Zelensky thanked Burnham for “warm words of respect for the Ukrainian people and for your condolences to the families and loved ones of those killed in Russia's recent attacks”.

Trump said on Truth Social that he had spoken to Burnham in one of his first phone calls as PM. "The call was interesting, and went very well," Trump wrote.

Burnham, who has little previous foreign policy experience, has said that Britain will remain a firm United States ally.

IMF approves $690m for Ukraine after review

The International ​Monetary Fund's board completed a review of Ukraine's financing arrangement, clearing the way for immediate access to about $690m, the Fund said on Monday.

IMF managing director Kristalina Georgieva said ⁠on Monday that maintaining macroeconomic stability remained Ukraine's immediate priority and called ‌for prudent fiscal ​and monetary policies as well ‌as measures to safeguard ​financial-sector resilience.

The war-torn nation is operating under an $8.1bn IMF loan programme.

The latest funding brings total disbursements under the programme to about $2.2bn, the IMF said in a statement.

The review is a ⁠key test for Ukraine ​as ⁠it struggles to sustain economic stability and advance reforms while battling intensified Russian attacks on its ⁠infrastructure.

The IMF said Ukraine had maintained macroeconomic and financial stability despite Russia's war.

However, it said the economic outlook had weakened largely due to intensified attacks on critical infrastructure and spillover effects from the war in the Middle East.

To keep the programme on track, IMF staff and Ukrainian authorities agreed in ‌June to a revised timeline for implementing reforms, ​corrective actions to address slippages and additional policy ‌commitments, the IMF said ⁠in June.

Why young Ukrainians in the streets want wartime military general gone

Thousands of angry protesters in Ukraine have taken to the streets triggering the largest protests the war-hit nation has seen since Russia's invasion in 2022.

For several days in a row now, these protesters have defied martial law to protest against last week's removal ⁠of young reformer Mykhailo Fedorov as defence minister ​and ⁠to demand the dismissal of Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi.

The protests have exposed deep divisions in the defence leadership on how to stop Russia's ⁠battlefield advances, as the war's overall momentum has swung in Kyiv's favour.

A poll from Gradus research company showed that 61 per cent of Ukrainians were against the dismissal of Fedorov.

Zelensky said he spoke with Fedorov, 35, "at length" over the weekend as the tussle between the two sides intensified, with the ousted young defence minister refusing to return to the government.

A source close to Fedorov told Reuters that he had discussed other roles with Zelensky, but that he was only ready to return as defence minister.

Ukrainian media reported that Fedorov had been offered roles overseeing military technology and innovation.

Dmytro ‌Koziatynskyi, a war veteran ​and one of the organisers of the protests, ‌called on supporters to launch a "general, indefinite protest" ​unless Syrskyi is removed and Fedorov reappointed as defence minister by 24 July.

Syrskyi, 60, faces criticism from civil society, soldiers and lawmakers for his Soviet-style command culture and high casualty tactics.

Zelensky meets military commanders amid street protests against army chief

President Volodymyr Zelensky met some of Ukraine’s top military ⁠commanders on Monday to try to ease growing discontent with the defence leadership that has triggered the largest street protests since Russia's invasion in 2022.

Ukraine's military commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, 60, is facing mounting criticism from civil society, soldiers and lawmakers for his Soviet-style command culture and high casualty tactics.

Zelensky met five generals and one colonel, viewed by political analysts as potential replacements for Syrskyi, one after another to discuss the battlefield situation as fighting rages along more ‌than 1,200km (746 miles) of the frontline.

The six most well-known and respected military commanders, including Commander of the Joint Forces Mykhailo Drapatyi and Deputy Chief of the General Staff Volodymyr Horbatyuk, represent a younger generation of Ukrainian officers whose careers were shaped in combat against Russian troops.

Oleh Apostol, commander of the air assault forces, and commanders of the three army corps – Andriy Biletsky, Ihor Obolenskyi, and Denys Prokopenko also met Zelensky, who posted pictures from his study following each meeting.

Zelensky's chief of staff, Kyrylo Budanov, called for unity and restraint in the wake of the protests, promising a constructive response.

“The public’s views have been heard," he said. "Work is underway. Results will follow.”

North Korean and Russian foreign ministers hold strategic talks in Moscow

North Korea’s foreign minister Choe Son Hui and Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov held their third strategic dialogue in Moscow on Monday, North Korean state media KCNA said this morning.

The two sides "reached a consensus on all the issues brought up for discussion", the report said, with talks focusing on implementing their comprehensive strategic partnership treaty signed in June 2024.

Russia expressed full support for North Korean measures to counter what KCNA described ⁠as hostile acts threatening its position and ​right ⁠to development, as well as its sovereign rights and security interests.

North Korea expressed invariable support for Russian policies aimed at eliminating what it called the "root cause" of the conflict in Ukraine and defending Russia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Analysts have been watching for signs that Choe’s visit could pave the way for another trip to Russia by the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who last travelled there for a summit with Putin in 2023.

Putin invited Kim to visit again during their June 2024 summit in Pyongyang.

North Korea ‌has also been shoring ​up ties with China, with successive ‌high-level exchanges this month marking ​the 65th anniversary of the countries’ friendship and mutual defence treaty.

Chinese nationals injured in drone attack on Moscow

At least three Chinese nationals have been reported injured during a Ukraine drone attack on Moscow, Chinese state media announced this morning.

The Chinese embassy in Russia said ⁠two people ​were receiving ⁠treatment at a local hospital and ⁠were in stable condition ​without life-threatening ⁠injuries, while ‌another had asked to be discharged for treatment ‌back in China.

The ‌embassy said it immediately activated its emergency response mechanism and ⁠asked Russian authorities to take all necessary measures to treat the injured and protect the safety and property of Chinese citizens.

The three Chinese nationals ​were among 10 ‌people injured ⁠in an attack carried ⁠out over Sunday night and ‌Monday ​morning.

Four Indian seafarers killed in ‘Russian strike’ on ship leaving Ukraine

Four Indian nationals were among 10 people killed in an alleged Russian cruise missile strike on a cargo ship leaving Ukraine's southern port of Odesa over the weekend.

India's foreign ministry said on Monday that the vessel, MV Golden Leo, was attacked on Sunday evening just as it was departing Odesa with 17 crew members, including five Indians.

The surviving Indian crew member was critically injured, the foreign ministry added.

The Ukrainian navy alleged that the vessel, flying the Guinea-Bissau flag and owned by a Turkish company, was targeted by Russian forces with three cruise missiles.

Ten people were killed, including a Ukrainian pilot, Ukraine’s Sea Ports Authority said after launching a search and rescue operation.

Four Indian seafarers killed in ‘Russian strike’ on ship leaving Ukraine

Russia expels two Italian diplomats, foreign ministry says

Russia said it had declared two Italian diplomats persona non grata, calling it a reciprocal measure in response to the expulsion of two Russian embassy staff in Italy.

Italian foreign minister Antonio Tajani said on 9 July that Rome had expelled two military attaches at the Russian embassy in Italy who were allegedly involved in espionage activities.

The Russian foreign ministry said in ​a ⁠statement that Vittorio Parrella, ‌the assistant defence attache at the Italian embassy, and Davide D’Aprile, an attache, ‌were persona non grata and ‌must leave Russia with their families within three days.

The ministry also said it had ⁠summoned Italian interim Charge d'Affaires Giovanni Scopa in connection with the expulsion of Russian embassy staff.

"The Russian Federation has expelled, without reason, the Italian military attache in Moscow along with one of ‌his collaborators. This is an act ​of blatant retaliation for the expulsion ‌from Italy of ⁠two Russian military attaches, who ⁠were indeed caught red-handed while carrying out espionage activities to ‌the detriment ​of our national ‌security," Tajani wrote ​on X on Monday.

Andy Burnham to pledge he will ‘be there’ for Zelensky on first call as PM

Andy Burnham has pledged he will “be there for” Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky and the UK’s support would remain “resolute” under his premiership.

The new Prime Minister indicated that the President of Ukraine would be one of the first foreign leaders he would speak to after replacing Sir Keir Starmer in No 10.

He also indicated plans for a call with US President Donald Trump.

Mr Burnham has little foreign policy experience from his time in government, but he said he had worked with Ukrainian mayors while he was running Greater Manchester.

He said he would support Mr Zelensky personally, as well as offer the UK’s backing to Ukraine.

Mr Burnham told broadcasters: “Those will be my first calls, and I’ll be making very clear later today to President Zelensky that there is no change.

Andy Burnham to pledge he will ‘be there’ for Zelensky on first call as PM

Burnham speaks to Zelensky and Trump in first calls after taking office

Andy Burnham has spoken with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky and US president Donald Trump as part of his first set of phone calls with world leaders as prime minister.

Burnham promised that Britain's support for Ukraine would remain unchanged under his leadership, just hours after he replaced Sir Keir Starmer in No 10.

Zelensky confirmed the call on his Telegram channel and said the two sides reaffirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine and agreed to speak on bilateral cooperation in the near future, including within the Anti-Ballistic Coalition.

"I was happy to speak with Andy Burnham and congratulate him on taking office as prime minister of the United Kingdom. I truly appreciate that the support for Ukraine and our people will remain steadfast," he said.

Zelensky thanked Burnham for “warm words of respect for the Ukrainian people and for your condolences to the families and loved ones of those killed in Russia's recent attacks”.

Trump said on Truth Social that he had spoken to Burnham in one of his first phone calls as PM. "The call was interesting, and went very well," Trump wrote.

Burnham, who has little previous foreign policy experience, has said that Britain will remain a firm United States ally.

IMF approves $690m for Ukraine after review

The International ​Monetary Fund's board completed a review of Ukraine's financing arrangement, clearing the way for immediate access to about $690m, the Fund said on Monday.

IMF managing director Kristalina Georgieva said ⁠on Monday that maintaining macroeconomic stability remained Ukraine's immediate priority and called ‌for prudent fiscal ​and monetary policies as well ‌as measures to safeguard ​financial-sector resilience.

The war-torn nation is operating under an $8.1bn IMF loan programme.

The latest funding brings total disbursements under the programme to about $2.2bn, the IMF said in a statement.

The review is a ⁠key test for Ukraine ​as ⁠it struggles to sustain economic stability and advance reforms while battling intensified Russian attacks on its ⁠infrastructure.

The IMF said Ukraine had maintained macroeconomic and financial stability despite Russia's war.

However, it said the economic outlook had weakened largely due to intensified attacks on critical infrastructure and spillover effects from the war in the Middle East.

To keep the programme on track, IMF staff and Ukrainian authorities agreed in ‌June to a revised timeline for implementing reforms, ​corrective actions to address slippages and additional policy ‌commitments, the IMF said ⁠in June.

Watch: Moscow under attack as Zelensky vows to intensify pressure on Russia

Why young Ukrainians in the streets want wartime military general gone

Thousands of angry protesters in Ukraine have taken to the streets triggering the largest protests the war-hit nation has seen since Russia's invasion in 2022.

For several days in a row now, these protesters have defied martial law to protest against last week's removal ⁠of young reformer Mykhailo Fedorov as defence minister ​and ⁠to demand the dismissal of Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi.

The protests have exposed deep divisions in the defence leadership on how to stop Russia's ⁠battlefield advances, as the war's overall momentum has swung in Kyiv's favour.

A poll from Gradus research company showed that 61 per cent of Ukrainians were against the dismissal of Fedorov.

Zelensky said he spoke with Fedorov, 35, "at length" over the weekend as the tussle between the two sides intensified, with the ousted young defence minister refusing to return to the government.

A source close to Fedorov told Reuters that he had discussed other roles with Zelensky, but that he was only ready to return as defence minister.

Ukrainian media reported that Fedorov had been offered roles overseeing military technology and innovation.

Dmytro ‌Koziatynskyi, a war veteran ​and one of the organisers of the protests, ‌called on supporters to launch a "general, indefinite protest" ​unless Syrskyi is removed and Fedorov reappointed as defence minister by 24 July.

Syrskyi, 60, faces criticism from civil society, soldiers and lawmakers for his Soviet-style command culture and high casualty tactics.

Four Indians killed in attack on ship leaving Ukraine port, confirms New Delhi

An attack on a ship ⁠leaving Ukraine's southern port of Odesa on Sunday killed four Indians and left another ⁠in ​a critical ⁠condition in hospital, India's foreign ministry ⁠said in a statement ​late ⁠on Monday.

Russia hit ‌the Golden Leo – a Guinea-Bissau-flagged ship manned by ‌a crew from ‌India and Syria – with three cruise missiles on Sunday, ⁠Ukraine's navy wrote on the Telegram messaging app.

"India condemns such attacks and reiterates that targeting commercial shipping and endangering ‌innocent civilian crew members, ​or otherwise impeding ‌freedom of ⁠navigation and commerce, is ⁠deplorable and should be avoided," ‌the ​ministry statement said.

Zelensky meets military commanders amid street protests against army chief

President Volodymyr Zelensky met some of Ukraine’s top military ⁠commanders on Monday to try to ease growing discontent with the defence leadership that has triggered the largest street protests since Russia's invasion in 2022.

Ukraine's military commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, 60, is facing mounting criticism from civil society, soldiers and lawmakers for his Soviet-style command culture and high casualty tactics.

Zelensky met five generals and one colonel, viewed by political analysts as potential replacements for Syrskyi, one after another to discuss the battlefield situation as fighting rages along more ‌than 1,200km (746 miles) of the frontline.

The six most well-known and respected military commanders, including Commander of the Joint Forces Mykhailo Drapatyi and Deputy Chief of the General Staff Volodymyr Horbatyuk, represent a younger generation of Ukrainian officers whose careers were shaped in combat against Russian troops.

Oleh Apostol, commander of the air assault forces, and commanders of the three army corps – Andriy Biletsky, Ihor Obolenskyi, and Denys Prokopenko also met Zelensky, who posted pictures from his study following each meeting.

Zelensky's chief of staff, Kyrylo Budanov, called for unity and restraint in the wake of the protests, promising a constructive response.

“The public’s views have been heard," he said. "Work is underway. Results will follow.”

North Korean and Russian foreign ministers hold strategic talks in Moscow

North Korea’s foreign minister Choe Son Hui and Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov held their third strategic dialogue in Moscow on Monday, North Korean state media KCNA said this morning.

The two sides "reached a consensus on all the issues brought up for discussion", the report said, with talks focusing on implementing their comprehensive strategic partnership treaty signed in June 2024.

Russia expressed full support for North Korean measures to counter what KCNA described ⁠as hostile acts threatening its position and ​right ⁠to development, as well as its sovereign rights and security interests.

North Korea expressed invariable support for Russian policies aimed at eliminating what it called the "root cause" of the conflict in Ukraine and defending Russia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Analysts have been watching for signs that Choe’s visit could pave the way for another trip to Russia by the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who last travelled there for a summit with Putin in 2023.

Putin invited Kim to visit again during their June 2024 summit in Pyongyang.

North Korea ‌has also been shoring ​up ties with China, with successive ‌high-level exchanges this month marking ​the 65th anniversary of the countries’ friendship and mutual defence treaty.

Chinese nationals injured in drone attack on Moscow

At least three Chinese nationals have been reported injured during a Ukraine drone attack on Moscow, Chinese state media announced this morning.

The Chinese embassy in Russia said ⁠two people ​were receiving ⁠treatment at a local hospital and ⁠were in stable condition ​without life-threatening ⁠injuries, while ‌another had asked to be discharged for treatment ‌back in China.

The ‌embassy said it immediately activated its emergency response mechanism and ⁠asked Russian authorities to take all necessary measures to treat the injured and protect the safety and property of Chinese citizens.

The three Chinese nationals ​were among 10 ‌people injured ⁠in an attack carried ⁠out over Sunday night and ‌Monday ​morning.

Four Indians killed in attack on ship leaving Ukraine's Odesa, New Delhi says

An attack on a ship leaving Ukraine's southern port of Odesa on Sunday killed four Indians and left another at hospital in a critical condition, India's foreign ministry said in a statement late on Monday.

Russia hit the Golden Leo – a Guinea-Bissau-flagged ship manned by a crew from India and Syria – with three cruise missiles on Sunday, Ukraine's navy wrote on the Telegram messaging app.

"​India condemns such attacks and reiterates that targeting commercial shipping and endangering innocent civilian crew members, or otherwise impeding freedom of navigation and commerce, is deplorable and should be avoided," the ministry statement said.

Watch: Russia pounds Kyiv with ballistic missiles leaving one dead and 13 injured

Russia fired more ballistic missiles against Ukraine in July than it produces monthly, says ISW

Russian forces have launched more ballistic missiles against Ukraine thus far in July than Russia reportedly produces each month, according to a US-based think tank monitoring the war.

“Ukrainian defence source Militarnyi reported on 19 July that Russia used up to two-thirds of its planned annual production of Zirkon missiles in July 2026 alone and that Russia launched more ballistic missiles in July than Russia’s reported total monthly production volume,” the Institute for the Study of War said.

Citing the Ukrainian Air Force reports for July, ISW said the attacks indicate that Russia has launched 107 ballistic missiles and 20 Zirkon missiles against Ukraine in July thus far.

“Militarny cited unspecified Ukrainian military intelligence (GUR) reports indicating that Russia produces about 60 Iskander-M ballistic missiles and 40 missiles for the S-400 complex monthly. Russia appears to be dipping into its stockpiles to continue increasing the number of ballistic missiles it launches against Ukraine, as these missiles have a higher success rate than drones and cruise missiles,” it said.

“Russian forces have simultaneously decreased the number of drones they launch in each overnight package, launching 2,955 thus far in July 2026 compared to 5,749 in June 2026,” the ISW said.

New video shows Monaco parcel bomb blast attack on Ukrainian tycoon

Fresh footage has been released of the moment a Ukrainian property tycoon and two others were injured in a bomb attack in Monaco.

Tycoon Vadym Iermolaiev was left fighting for life after the explosion at the start of June, with a 13 year-old boy and a woman also injured in what authorities believe was an attempted assassination.

Ukraine’s prosecutor general Ruslan Kravchenko released footage of the incident as he reported an investigation was underway to obtain new evidence in the case of “attempted murder”.

The video showed a hooded figure appearing to drop a backpack full of explosives on the steps of Mr Iermolaiev’s Monaco home. As they walked away, the property tycoon could be seen walking towards the property with two others when a purple flash erupted as the explosion took place.

New video shows Monaco parcel bomb blast attack on Ukrainian tycoon

Hungary probes deal with China's BYD carmaker after ex-foreign minister takes job there

Hungary’s government announced an investigation Monday into a large foreign investment by Chinese automaker BYD negotiated by a former foreign minister who last week resigned from Parliament to take an executive position at the company.

Péter Szijjártó's announcement last Wednesday that he would take the job at the world’s top electric carmaker prompted accusations of a conflict of interest and criticism over his role in facilitating substantial government subsidies to the company while in office.

Prime Minister Péter Magyar told lawmakers on Monday that Szijjártó, a close ally of former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, had helped BYD while he was in office “with hundreds of billions (of forints) in public money, diplomatic support and state infrastructure.”

“We will examine all the decisions, negotiations and state commitments made by Péter Szijjártó that were related to the BYD Hungary investment,” Magyar said Monday.

Russian strikes kill 28 people in Ukraine's Odesa region in July, governor says

Russian strikes have killed 28 people in Ukraine's southern Odesa region in July, the regional governor said on Monday.

"If you take since the beginning of July, the Odesa region was under constant daily shelling. There were days when 13-15 air raid alerts had been announced in the region," Oleh Kiper told Ukrainian television